Guidance Needed For Test 287

[Swapan Mazumdar]

To Those-Who-Passed-Test287,

I have got a voucher for Test 287 and want to prepare for Test 287. I would request those who have already cleared Test 287 to suggest how one should go about it. Suggestions about Publication Books Referred, RedBooks and online tutorials. I would like to know all the hints with the whole objective of clearing the exams. Additional knowledge gained should be a bonus but not required.

I am finishing the Redbook-EJB 2.0 Development with WebSphere Studio Application Developer. It helped to know the tool specific mechanism of EJB Development.
IBM endorses Kushner's book and Ed Roman 2nd Ed. How much onc could have gained when followed those books?

I also need some references for Red Books/Pieces/Technotes for Test Objective: Section 7 - Validate, tune and troubleshoot an app...

-Swapan
[ February 21, 2005: Message edited by: Swapan Mazumdar ]

[Americo Souza]

Hi Swapan

About your questions:

- I failed at 287 a couple of months ago. Because I don�t have any kind of experience with J2EE I think that Kushner's book does not provide the necessary background to clear the exam. You can find more info about it at the thread below

https://coderanch.com/t/144953/po/certification/Failed-at-IBM

- Currently my approach is different. I decided to prepare for IBM 340. Its objectives are overlapped with 287. I am using IBM red books plus another one from Roland Barcia (IBM�s recommendation).

- Roman�s book is more related to EJB specs. There are a lot of questions on the exam about scenarios that will require practical experience.

[Vijay S. Rathore]

Swapan Mazumdar,

I think Kushner's book covers the entire objectives to clear this exam. Without any publicity stunt I would say try the exam simulator from Whizlabs for 287 to prepare on the variety of questions this exam tests. The combination of both should be more than enough for you to clear the exam.

[Nicholas Cheung]

I agree with Vijay.

Personally, I love Howard's book as it is very good for WSAD related stuff. Of course, IBM's exams are so different from SUN's exams because it expected that you have certain knowledge on general issues (SCWCD and SCBCD) before going on a vendor specific exam. Thus, if you dont have J2EE experiences, you might consider to take IBM 484 first, because it requires you to know Serlvets, JSPs, EJBs and various J2EE technologies, like JDBC, JAXP, JCA, JSSE.

After that, you can read Howard's book because he did an excellent job on WSAD or WAS specific confiugration and environment issues.

You might also consider Vijay's Whizlabs' simulator. It helps you to understand the objectives and your weakness.

In addition, to gain Servlets, JSPs and EJBs knowledge, I recommend you to read the 2 books:
1. SCWCD Exam Study Kit
2. Head First EJB
These are excellent books for J2EE 1.3.

Best luck for your exam.

Nick

[Albert Maurucier]

I think that ibm 287 was the toughest java exam i passed. If you haven'nt experience with J2EE and Websphere, Howard's book isn't enough. Study ibm redbooks: SG24-6198-01 (IBM WebSphere Performance, Scalability, and
High Availability) at least some chapters and SG24-6195-00 (IBM WebSphere Application Server V5.0 System Management and Configuration)
Some questions on the real exam are ambigous.Whizlabs exam simulator is far away the IBM philosophy, it's really useless.
Albert

[Karthik Guru]

Can I use wsad 5.1 and was 5.1 for preparing for this exam?
I'm not too inclined towards using the 5.0 versions for preparing for the exam. What do you guys think?

[cyril vidal]

Howard's book isn't enough. Study ibm redbooks: SG24-6198-01 (IBM WebSphere Performance, Scalability, and
High Availability) at least some chapters and SG24-6195-00 (IBM WebSphere Application Server V5.0 System Management and Configuration)

In fact, howard's book is nothing more than copy/paste of IBM Redbooks..
You may also add IBM Websphere v5.0 security redbook in the list of copied books .
So, if you want to own ony one book instead of three, get Howard's book.
But it will cost you $65;-))

Regards,
Cyril.

[Vijay S. Rathore]

Karthik Guru,

You can use WSAD 5.1 or 5.1.1 also. But be sure to focus on concepts instead of the dialog boxes that appear there. Personally I have seen dialog box differences at many places amongst different versions.

Vijay

[Karthik Guru]

Originally posted by Vijay S. Rathore:

You can use WSAD 5.1 or 5.1.1 also. But be sure to focus on concepts instead of the dialog boxes that appear there. Personally I have seen dialog box differences at many places amongst different versions.

Vijay

Thanks Vijay for confirmation. I'm happy that the exam does not concentrate on the IDE intricacies.